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Email a friendNew Ways to Get Rid of Skin Tags
Newspaper Columns, Pharmacy Q&A June 4, 2007
Q. Some time ago I read in your column about someone who had success removing skin tags with a liquid bandage. I would appreciate hearing about this remedy.
I have several of these growths around my neck where the chain of my necklace rests. I have been considering having them removed by a dermatologist, but would like to try this remedy first.
A. We have heard from many readers who tell us New-Skin Liquid Bandage works: “I used it twice a day for three days and the skin tags came off!” Others tell us it may take a few weeks.
Another approach some readers have tried involves a wart remedy: “I found Compound W works just as well for getting rid of skin tags.”
There is also an old-fashioned approach to skin tag removal: “I had a rather large one on the side of my neck. My dermatologist said to just ignore it. Soon after, I mentioned to a friend (an orthopedic doctor) how much I hated it, and he promptly tied and knotted a piece of thread around it and cut the ends off real close. You couldn't even see it. He said that would shut off the blood supply to the tag and it would fall off very quickly. It was gone in three days.”
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2007 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
I have these tags over my body and I was wondering if these are related to diabeties. I have this and I also understand it is in the genes. Is this true? Thank you.
Posted by: Ann Crane | June 8, 2007 12:21 PM
I question tying string on skin tags. This produces a non draining wound that might be susceptible to Tetanus.
Posted by: K.R. Butcher DVM | June 8, 2007 4:57 PM
I read about this removal of TAGS using New Skin on your site and decided to give it a try. It does work! I found that that you have to experiment a lot and keep adding more layers of New Skin each day. The stuff is not cheap for the amount you get and I really think it is just Clear Fingernail Polish with a fancy name---it sure smells like it. I wish I knew someone to run ingredient tests of both products and see how they match up.
Posted by: Paul | June 8, 2007 6:10 PM
I noticed the comments re. using thread to remove skin tags. My daughter swears by dental floss.......Just tie tightly around the tag, and it comes off in a few days.
Lil Gibson
Greensboro, NC
Posted by: LIL GIBSON | June 8, 2007 7:25 PM
Several years ago my Dr. told me to use the dental floss method on skin tags, it did work. Was at the dermatologist a while back for something else and while there mentioned some skin tags. The nurse cut them off with a sissors and told to do the same next time.
I'm concerned about using "New Sking" now if it can kill off a skin tag what does it do to a wound?
Posted by: Charlene k.Porter | June 9, 2007 8:21 AM
I have not tried the liquid bandage yet, but I have used dental floss to tie off skin tags that have long pedicles. My dermatologist charges $10 per tag to snip them off with small sharp scissors.
Posted by: Ellen Lee | June 9, 2007 6:49 PM
I just used the tying off method and it really works. Most importantly if the tag is on your neck or another spot that is hard for you to work on yourself get help. Mine was on my neck so I had my husband help me. He tied an ordinary piece of sewing thread as tightly as he could as close to the base of the skin tag as he could get and then knotted it 3 or 4 times. It did sting a little for a few minutes, but after that it was completely painless. Within 30 or 40 minutes it was looking darker. The next morning it was really dark, and by the second day it was totally black and starting to harden up and shrivel up. On the 4th day it just came right off, thread and all.
This was a fairly large tag that had been there for nearly 20 years, so I assume that a smaller tag would come off even faster.
Posted by: Gwen | June 22, 2007 2:16 PM
My OB/GYN told me to cut them off with scissors, which I do regularly with no problems. Bleeds for a minute or two--just put a bandaid on it.
Posted by: kay wilson | July 30, 2007 5:20 PM